Rest Does a Body Good!

I had a great weekend and spent most of my time being lazy and resting. I felt like last week physically and emotionally beat me down. So I took it easy this weekend but still did my physical therapy. I didn't get on my bike once :-(. But I think it paid of because I woke up this morning and felt renewed and awake and rested. What an awesome feeling!!

I can tell I am getting stronger in my exercises and have been adding more sets. It is so rewarding to feel myself getting stronger that I could practically cry just thinking about it!! Tomorrow marks 7 months from the accident and looking back I can see that I have come so far!! I think that in February I will be able to start doing yoga. I cannot wait to use this mat for what it was intended for and not just physical therapy!!!

I know that I will have a little set back with my next surgery but I am hoping that the recovery will not take too long. If I have to go back to physical therapy after that surgery I may have a full on breakdown!! But... I don't think they would give me any exercises that I haven't already learned so I could probably just do it at home and not have to fork out a $15 co-pay 2 times a week and miss work. Staying positive...

Good-ish News!

I saw one of my surgeons today (who would ever think I would be saying "one of my surgeons"??!) and I got some pretty good news. I got x-rays of my ankle and the outer bones in my leg have almost grown back together. I was kind of freaking out while I was looking at the x-rays and waiting for Dr. Keating to come in and tell me what he thought. He felt that my bones should have already grown back together... so I immediately thought that meant I would have to continue to wait patiently for my last surgery. BUT... to my surprise he said that it was healed "good enough" for surgery (wtf does that mean exactly though... when it comes to me being able to walk normally and feel less pain... I need something more definite then good enough!?!)!! So I am now waiting for his receptionist to call me back with the date. We are shooting for late February/early March. I just want it over with so that I can get myself totally healthy! And maybe, just maybe, get some closure on this.

Anxious!!!

I am very anxous this week because on Wednesday I have an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon to look at my ankle/leg. It will mark almost 7 months since the accident/surgery. I have to get another x-ray and am HOPING that the outer bone on my leg has grown together... please!! If so, we should be able to determine when I will have my last surgery. I just want to get this behind me so that I can somewhat move on ya know?!?!

As long as it doesn't look like this x-ray.... I will be happy!

No words... just awesomeness!

No Helmet Required!

I bought a bike and ironically it was delivered the day of my accident... or maybe the day before. Either way... God has a sense of humor. Anywho.... so clearly I have not been riding around town or anything like that. But, I need to build up my stamina and just ordered a bike stand for exercise so that I can modify my bike into a stable exercise bike!! Sweet!! Can't wait till it gets here!

My bike is pretty freakin' AWESOME!!

100%

It has been 6 months and 3 days since my accident. Tomorrow I go to see my neurosurgeon that repaired my back. I am interested to see my new x-rays and to see what all he has to say. The first 3 months of recovery I could not lift anything heavier then a gallon of milk. Now I can lift up to 15 lbs. I think tomorrow he will increase that to 20 or 25 lbs. I wonder what else he will tell me I can do??

I want to ask him how all the metal in my back works. I am sure he explained it to me while I was in ICU however the morphine mixed with total hysteria = me not really remembering!

I am continuing to do my physical therapy and working hard to strengthen my core. I met a woman that broke her L2 vertebrae 3 years ago and she said that every day she feels back pain and weakness and that she knows she will never be at 100% again. I suppose I have to set a new standard in my mind for what 100% will be!

Tis the Season!

It is almost Christmas!! Which means great times with family and friends, decorations, lights, food, COOKIES!, and also cold, cold weather. Not gonna lie... the cold weather hurts my body! I now know I could never live in the north where it gets much colder. I have tried everything I can think of to combat the pain and stiffness that I feel.

• electric mattress pad
• electric blanket
• warm showers
• layers
• scarfs (I have bought several this season with the excuse that I need to bundle up!)

And nothing is helping!! I will get through it though. I am still doing physical therapy daily and trying to get more and more in shape. I almost came to tears the other morning though because I had to put on shoes that required bending over to tie and I could barely do it. But that gives me something to work for!

Regardless of my pain... I wish it would snow!